His number can't be provided because no-one seems to know what it is. The American tycoon and billionaire doesn't talk too much and is like a silent assassin inflicting a slow and painful death on his current victim - Aston Villa.

He did break his silence for the first time in five years last week - to stand down as chairman, appoint unknown accountant Steven Hollis as his successor and admit he'd left the club in a right mess.

No kidding Randy.

Lerner graduated from Columbia Law School and is a member of the New York and District of Columbia Bar Associations. He worked as a lawyer in the Big Apple before going into business.

Which makes the fact he has overseen the catastrophic demise of Villa hugely ironic because the club's fall from grace has been nothing short of criminal.

Lerner once studied at Cambridge University and spent time following the fortunes of Fulham, Arsenal and Villa.

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“Villa have become an absolute shambles. He's hired and fired managers. Appointed the wrong people in the wrong roles”

Instead, he should have studied clubs like Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth.

Three depressing examples of what serious damage can be done to clubs if not owned and managed in the correct manner.

"Doing a Leeds" has become a synonymous phrase associated with what can happen to clubs that make a mess of things.

Just to make it clear, Leeds were brought to their knees because of serious overspending - one of the few things Lerner cannot be accused of.

Quite the opposite in fact. Lerner, who once set-up his own investment firm in America, is actually charged with serious under-spending.

But the moral of the tale is just the same. Treat being in the Premier League with a lack of respect and it will haunt you for years to come.

Villa have become an absolute shambles. He's hired and fired managers. Appointed the wrong people in the wrong roles.

Bottom of the league and hurtling towards the Championship, Villa resemble a rogue plane on autopilot heading for a crash landing - and the damage could be catastrophic.

Lerner only has himself to blame. He is supposed to be at the controls, but no-one knows his destination because he rarely pokes his head out of the cockpit, with the exception of last week, when all he succeeded in doing was shift responsibility to someone else and enhance the belief that he just doesn't care about the club.

Villa will receive a staggering £100m if they finish bottom of the table this season, that's almost £40m more than Lerner paid Doug Ellis in 2006 to buy the club in the first place.

Lerner would have to spend all of this and more on new talent if he wanted to get the club back to where it belongs.

But there is more chance of Chris Gayle being tactful than Lerner putting his hand in his pocket, because the 53-year-old prefers to save money by selling his best assets and sticking the cash in the bank.

James Milner, Stuart Downing, Fabien Delph, Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and Christian Benteke have all been sold under his watch. Internationals one and all.

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GAFFER: Remi Garde

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SOLD: Fabian Delph

Those brought in have been mediocre and inadequate, incapable of succeeding at this demanding level. End result? Relegation.

In the meantime, the likes of Bournemouth, Sunderland and Newcastle have invested in new signings that might still not keep them up, but at least they are trying to be pro-active and do something about the perilous position they find themselves in.

When Lerner wasn't satisfied with a sixth place finish in 2011, but refused to given Martin O'Neill major investment, the Northern Irishman promptly quit.

It was the start of a downward spiral that has made Lerner's head spin so much he has gone from being ambitious with high standards to accepting of relegation.

His general silence speaks volumes. Lerner brings shame on those foreign owners who do have the best interests of their English clubs at heart and he doesn't deserve the privilege of controlling Villa.

It will be his birthday next month - and you'll be able to count the number of cards he gets from fans on one finger.

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ACE: Jordan Spieth

WHAT does Jordan Spieth eat for breakfast?

The gifted American has just started 2016 like he finished 2015 - winning tournaments following his eight shot triumph at the 'Tournament of Champions' in Hawaii.

The game of golf is still mourning the shocking decline of former great Tiger Woods. But there is no need.

Woods contributed so much to golf and changed the way it was played. Now some people fear he will never be replaced or his achievements matched.

But just like Woods filled the void left behind by Jack Nicklaus, along comes Spieth to take the sport into the next generation.

Spieth, who is still only 22, won two Majors last year and came close in the others to surge to the top of the world rankings.

He has the talent to emulate Woods' achievements while those who questioned if he could follow-up what he did in 2015 have already had their answer.

But one comparison we won't be making between the two is their attitude towards a game that has made them rich and famous.

Spieth respects the privilege of being the best golfer on the planet and, unlike Woods, has manners, decency and respect. In short - he's the complete package both on and off the course and the game's future is in safe hands.

NEWQUAY could soon be on the map for more reasons than being a playground for holidaymakers and surfers.

That's because former Zimbabwe test cricketer Mark Vermeulen is heading to town.

Vermeulen, 36, has signed a deal to turn out for Newquay CC this summer and

the club's decision will either be a masterstroke or total disaster.

That's because Vermeulen, who played nine Tests and 43 one day internationals, has a chequered past to say the least.

He was once banned (for 10 years) after an altercation with a spectator during a Lancashire League game and even escaped prison when acquitted of an arson charge on the grounds of mental illness - despite setting fire to Zimbabwe's cricket academy.

He has also been disciplined for posting racist comments on social media while his school, Prince Edward High in Harare, once suspended him after he walked off with the stumps and locked himself in the changing room after getting out to a dodgy lbw decision.

Anyone who needs to contact the club's welfare officer, Jonny Andrews, can do so in a confidential manner once the season is up and running. His details are on the club website.

NEW England rugby boss Eddie Jones must want his head examining if he makes Dylan Hartley his new captain.

Despite numerous warnings, Hartley has been unable to stay out of trouble throughout his career, with serious acts of violence on the pitch costing him dear, including a British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and place in Stuart Lancaster's squad for last year's World Cup.

Head butting, eye gouging, biting, punching and abusing referees have made him infamous for his lack of control.

Jones named his first squad last week, one that included seven future stars who will hopefully lead England to World Cup glory in Japan in 2019.

It was a glimpse into the future and Hartley, who will be knocking on for 34 by

the time the next World Cup comes around, should not be part of it - let alone enjoy the privilege of leading his country. He can't be trusted.